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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Five vehicles ram raid Goldfields Shopping Centre in Thames overnight

Cira Olivier
By Cira Olivier
Multimedia Journalist, Bay of Plenty Times·Bay of Plenty Times·
5 Jul, 2023 11:25 PM2 mins to read

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Damage at Goldfields Shopping Centre. Photo / Supplied

Damage at Goldfields Shopping Centre. Photo / Supplied

Five vehicles ram raided a Thames shopping centre overnight causing “significant damage” and forcing some shops to close today.

Goldfields Shopping Centre manager John Freer said vehicles drove through the front doors about 2am smashing through one side of the centre and out the other.

He said it “smashed” a set of doors inside and damaged the vape shop and computer kiosk before driving out the other entrance by “smashing through the doors”.

Damage at Goldfields Shopping Centre.  Photo / Supplied
Damage at Goldfields Shopping Centre. Photo / Supplied

Freer was still on his way to assess the damage in person.

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He said the centre would be shut today excluding the shops that had external access - The Warehouse, McDonald’s drive-through, and the pharmacy.

Police Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said five vehicles were used to gain entry through commercial premises on Mary St in Thames and were “driven carelessly through the premises”.

Police were called after multiple alarms were activated about 2.10am.

“Significant damage was caused, and an unknown amount of goods and money were stolen,” she said.

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She said the offenders fled the scene a short time later.

Three vehicles involved have since been recovered and police are continuing to follow positive lines of enquiry, she said.

Police are doing a scene examination this morning and are working to identify and find those involved.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 or online at ‘Update Report’ referencing file number 230706/3546.

Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

More to come.

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